Compare towns
Alton vs Chapman vs Phillips
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the most affordable homes ($180k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Alton | Chapman | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 819 |
388Lowest |
1,094Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
| Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25kLowest 39% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
| Phillips and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48Highest 24% below ME |
— | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
23 min 6% below ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 34 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.